The Dillon tribune., 1887-05-20
REPuel,cAN,sM IN ENGLAND.

She Queen - Figure Head.A 1oF''
Frank Admission-Taxation'
"EnRland is u republic in everything
but mere name said prominent Dusl'
ness man "a Tory to me the other oay.
1.-THE peoplc rule here more tnan IN inc
United States. Our government IS more
sensitive to the influence of public opinion
than yours. We simply have perpetual
chief executive. that is all. That IS Detter
than your way OF constant change. ~
costs no more to sustain our fo!aI 1a!'l4ls
than it does you to pay your president
when you reckon the cost of your presi-
Dental elections Your pension list ex'
cecds the cost Of our army. tMnk you
will find our form OF government as
:, economical as yours, while, to come 10 IN!
main point, it is more OF repuOnc, M
that the will Of the people has more con-
troll than in the United States
"What influence has the queen upon tue
administration Of affairs:
"None ut all. She might have; she mas
the authority to veto acts OF parhament,
but she never does. l think 1t wouIn nc
a great advantage to us to have king
with q clear head and determined mina'
who would. upon proper occasions, veto
acts of parliament. That would he a wise
check upon the unlimited power Of the
house of commons. 1t selects thu men,
hers of the cabinet and the queen merely
registers its decree. The house OF COM
mons is the administration.
"Does the house Of lords act as n check
upon the house,
"Only to the extent of making it at
times exercise deliberate second thought.
The house of lords may reject n house
bill, but it has never been known to stand
ont against Il measure that the house Of
commons insists upon.
This Tory gentleman may he right
about certain features of advantage about
the English form of government, but o
close examination will show that the ad-
vantagcs are not all on his side. However
influential public sentiment may be in
England, il is very slow to awaken. 1t Is
harder to bring about change OF any
kind in England and secure the adoption
of anything new than III any country in
the world. The laws there for many cen
turics have h"an made in the interests Of
the rich and the property owners, and to
secure a change in these laws Is now ;,s
difficult as ii they were not oppressive to
the majority. For instance, one Of the
most notable cases Of this kind of legisln-
ton was called to my mind the other day
during visit to a gentleman who owns a
place III the country. It is not very far
out Of London, through stretch Of coun.
try which has been built up with suburban
houses to u great extent during the last
five years. This reaching out Of the city
In his direction has made fortunes for
many owners of land. But It has brought
the greatest profits to those who have
done the least to secure the improve.
ments. The laws are SO shaped as to dis.
courage improvement. Property unim'
proved is not taxed. But the moment IN
owner begins to improve thst property.
whether by building or cultivation, the
tax collector begins to hammer at his
door. In this very neighborhood titled
land owner held large piece Of property,
upon which he had nothing but shoot.
ing box. He left his ground untouched
and 50 escaped taxation, while the taxed
people built up about him, increasing the
! value Of his untaxed property fiftyfold. -
! London Cor. New York World